Rumors: Jalen Brunson to return to Dallas to face the Mavericks on Dec. 27

The Dallas Mavericks helped Jalen Brunson transform from a second-round pick to the season-leading scorer on a conference finalist. The 25-year-old just kept getting better in Dallas. From improving his deadly mid-range game to figuring out how to exploit the tightest windows with the ball in his hands, Brunson always had something new.

That is why it was crushing to see him join the New York Knicks in free agency. The Mavs lost an important piece, and they got nothing in return. Brunson took an opportunity to play with his family in New York and be their starting point guard. It is a fantastic opportunity that he just could not pass up, but it still hurt the hearts of MFFLs.

Marc Stein dropped the news that Brunson will play his first game in Dallas a member of the New York Knicks on Dec. 27. The NBA schedule will not officially be released until Wednesday, but the games are starting to leak out. Here is a look at what we know so far, and what to expect from Knicks versus Mavericks two days after Christmas.

Rumors: Jalen Brunson to return to Dallas to face the Mavericks for the first time on Dec. 27

Brunson’s return to Dallas is the third game that has dropped so far. The Mavericks will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, and they will open the season in Phoenix for a playoff rematch against the Suns. Fans will find out the remainder of their schedule on Wednesday, but they should expect plenty of nationally televised games in the 2022-2023 campaign.

Since Luka joined the Mavericks, they have won just two games against the Knicks. New York has six victories, including three straight, against Dallas in that span. There was always a bit of rivalry from the Kristaps Porzingis trade, but things will be ratcheted up after Brunson signed with the Knicks.

Jalen Brunson should be cheered in his return to Dallas. The Mavericks did not offer him a four-year extension worth $55.6 million last summer, so they cannot be upset that he signed a four-year deal worth $110 million to join the Knicks. Dallas will have the chance to show him his mistake two days after Christmas in what should be an exciting and high-energy game at the American Airlines Center, so do not miss it.